focus

Academic Word List, sublist 2.

About 59.23 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.

   The heat of sunlight at the focus of a magnifying glass can easily set dry leaves on fire.

2. noun A point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
3. noun The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.

   Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image.

4. noun The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.

   During this scene, the boy’s face shifts subtly from soft focus into sharp focus.

5. noun Concentration of attention.

   I believe I can bring the high degree of focus required for this important job.

6. noun Something to which activity, attention or interest is primarily directed.

   My studies are my main focus right now.

7. noun The exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions (underneath the epicentre).

   The earthquake's focus was at exactly 37 degrees north, 18 degrees south, seventy five meters below the ground.

8. noun The status of being the currently active element in a user interface, often indicated by a visual highlight.

   Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus.

Similar words

focal point center concenter pore centre centering sharpen concentrate rivet nidus

Often followed by

on of is and for in the groups group

Word family

foci focusable focused focuser focusers focuses focusing focusless focussed focusses